The Gérald Godin Gladiators men’s basketball team have closed out the CEGEP’s first semester on a positive note. The Gladiators like all CEGEP athletes will return to action in 2012 when following an away game in Trois-Rivièresthey will return home on Feb. 3 to face Valleyfield. The Gladiators in their recent contest versus André-Grasset were probably victims of the clock as they let a one point lead slide in the closing seconds of the game to finally lose 65-62. Vincent Jalbert Murray (13 points), Olivier Poirier (12 points) and Marc Antoine Bergeron (10 points) led the Gladiators on offence. Pierre Laurencelle had 21 points for the visitors. Coach Denis Carbonneau will surely be pleased as his team was vastly improved in defensive rebounding as compared to early season action. Seasoned reporters from team Thunder who witnessed the Gladiators progression during the first half of CEGEP season play were impressed with the play in the final game in December. “They deserved to win” said team Thunders official photographer following the Gladiators final heart breaking loss. First semester three stars of the men’s Gladiators basketball team as selected by Team Thunder of the Journal Cités Nouvelles include Jean-Marc Olivier, Vincent Jalbert Murray and Olivier Poirier.